Native English Speakers in Madrid’s Classrooms: Difficulties Reported by Assistants

This article examines difficulties encountered by 40 native English-speaking language assistants working in classrooms in the Madrid region, as reported in their teaching portfolios, a requirement of the Master’s degree programs they completed during the same period. The 187 comments obtained were a...

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Main Author: Mary Frances
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Extremadura 2020-01-01
Series:Tejuelo: Didáctica de la Lengua y la Literatura
Subjects:
Online Access:https://mascvuex.unex.es/revistas/index.php/tejuelo/article/view/3393
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author Mary Frances
author_facet Mary Frances
author_sort Mary Frances
collection DOAJ
description This article examines difficulties encountered by 40 native English-speaking language assistants working in classrooms in the Madrid region, as reported in their teaching portfolios, a requirement of the Master’s degree programs they completed during the same period. The 187 comments obtained were analyzed by sorting them according to theme; the findings confirm those of prior studies while bringing to light challenges not mentioned to date in research. Some aspects discussed by the native English speakers were differences in classroom methodology and discipline, the need for increased communication with local teachers, the policy to use only English at the schools, an inability to help students with special needs effectively, and responsibilities that go beyond those of a language assistant.
format Article
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series Tejuelo: Didáctica de la Lengua y la Literatura
spelling doaj-art-10180e2fe310450aa243a960c09b7c492025-08-20T01:55:58ZengUniversidad de ExtremaduraTejuelo: Didáctica de la Lengua y la Literatura1988-84302020-01-0131477610.17398/1988-8430.31.47Native English Speakers in Madrid’s Classrooms: Difficulties Reported by AssistantsMary Frances0LitzlerThis article examines difficulties encountered by 40 native English-speaking language assistants working in classrooms in the Madrid region, as reported in their teaching portfolios, a requirement of the Master’s degree programs they completed during the same period. The 187 comments obtained were analyzed by sorting them according to theme; the findings confirm those of prior studies while bringing to light challenges not mentioned to date in research. Some aspects discussed by the native English speakers were differences in classroom methodology and discipline, the need for increased communication with local teachers, the policy to use only English at the schools, an inability to help students with special needs effectively, and responsibilities that go beyond those of a language assistant.https://mascvuex.unex.es/revistas/index.php/tejuelo/article/view/3393bilingual education; teacher aides; english (foreign language); native speakers
spellingShingle Mary Frances
Native English Speakers in Madrid’s Classrooms: Difficulties Reported by Assistants
Tejuelo: Didáctica de la Lengua y la Literatura
bilingual education; teacher aides; english (foreign language); native speakers
title Native English Speakers in Madrid’s Classrooms: Difficulties Reported by Assistants
title_full Native English Speakers in Madrid’s Classrooms: Difficulties Reported by Assistants
title_fullStr Native English Speakers in Madrid’s Classrooms: Difficulties Reported by Assistants
title_full_unstemmed Native English Speakers in Madrid’s Classrooms: Difficulties Reported by Assistants
title_short Native English Speakers in Madrid’s Classrooms: Difficulties Reported by Assistants
title_sort native english speakers in madrid s classrooms difficulties reported by assistants
topic bilingual education; teacher aides; english (foreign language); native speakers
url https://mascvuex.unex.es/revistas/index.php/tejuelo/article/view/3393
work_keys_str_mv AT maryfrances nativeenglishspeakersinmadridsclassroomsdifficultiesreportedbyassistants